what is the Gospel?

Ironside SG

I know that this post will be elementary to those who are mature Christians here. But for the sake of evangelism, for those who do not know what the Gospel is, this post is written. May God use it for the salvation of souls.

Very Happy

What is the Gospel?

There are questions we cant afford to have the wrong answers to. Questions that our eternities hang on and depend. And one such question is the one above: What is the gospel?
For sure, you have heard this word gazillion of times already but what is it? Do you know? First, before going into the answer, let me catalog for you what the gospel is not:

The Gospel is.

not the 10 commandments [these only show you that you need the Gospel. it is not the Gospel]

.not the whole Bible [The OT prophecied about the Gospel. It is not the Gospel. The NT is the fulfillment of the Gospel{Matthew to John}. The book of ACTS show us the gospelization of the apostles. The Books from Romans to Revelation show us the implication of the Gospel with regards to our moral lives. The NT is not the Gospel. It contains the Gospel]

.not the whole New Testament

.not All the commandments in the New Testament [these NT commands were given to those who have already recieved the Gospel. They are not the Gospel]

..not Prayer [This is what those who have recieved the Gospel should be doing after they have recieved it. This is not the Gospel]

..not Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. [these individual books of the Bible are not the Gospel, they contain the Gospel]

so what's the Gospel?

The Gospel, dear reader, is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and what He did on the cross of Calvary for you and me. The Gospel is the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ for the sins of sinners. Anytime you hear these words:

The Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of sinners, buried and resurrected for us."

everytime you hear those words my friend you hear the Gospel, the Good News of salvation. Youve heard that millions of times already right? You know what the Bible says about the Gospel? You know whats the divine commentary of the Bible about the Gospel?

Here read it for yourself:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." [Romans 1:16-17]

The Gospel speaks about Christs humiliation for our exaltation. From the vantage point of the world, Christs hanging there on the cross seemed a failure, a picture of defeat. The world laughs and scorns: whats there in a man nailed to the cross? How can that be good news for methis is plain foolishness.

But Paul was not ashamed to proclaim such a message. Why? Because it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. The Gospel is the life-boat in a sea where every ship is sinking. The Gospel is the only strong and formidable tower of salvation that men and women can take refuge. The Gospel is the Rock of Gibraltar that stands mighty and indomitable in the midst of shaking foundations. When the smoke clears, only the truth of the Gospel will be seen standing firm unscathed.

It is the power of God to salvation it cannot sink; God is its buoy. It cannot crumble; God is its architect and builder. It cannot fall; God is its foundation. It is trustworthy; its Gods saving truth.

Practical Application:

What are you doing with the truth of the Gospel, dear reader? Its meant to benefit us sinners like you and me.

Are you trusting it?

a)You are not trusting the Gospel [the work of salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ] if you attempt to be right with God through good works.

b)You are not trusting the Gospel if you believe that somehow your good deeds can lessen and atone for your sins.

c)you are not trusting the Gospel if you think that it's your good works + the Gospel can get you to enter the Kingdom of heaven.

d) you do not have true faith in the Gospel if you do not reciieve it with a repentant heart.

He came to die for the sins of sinners and rose again for our justification [justification-meaning that we may be declared perfectly righteous in Gods eyes forever]. What you must do is trust the Good News of salvation.

Here's the Gospel command: Trust in the saving work of Christ on Calvary alone.

Very Happy May God bless you

Icemoon SG

Originally posted by Ironside:
Practical Application:

What are you doing with the truth of the Gospel, dear reader? Its meant to benefit us sinners like you and me.

Are you trusting it?

a)You are not trusting the Gospel [the work of salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ] if you attempt to be right with God through good works.

b)You are not trusting the Gospel if you believe that somehow your good deeds can lessen and atone for your sins.

c)you are not trusting the Gospel if you think that it's your good works + the Gospel can get you to enter the Kingdom of heaven.

d) you do not have true faith in the Gospel if you do not reciieve it with a repentant heart.

I feel that many Protestants are guilty of d).

The Gospel has became their excuse to sin.

M©+square SG

Question

How has the gospel become excuse to sin?

Icemoon SG

If the Gospel is this - The Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of sinners, buried and resurrected for us." - then an overemphasis or rather wrong understanding of justification by faith will lead to that.

vince69 SG

if a person wants to commit a sin, he don't need an excuse to do it, he just needs the guts to do it (NOTE: wants to, does not means will, just maybe don't have the chance/ability to do it).
if a person don't want to sin, give him ten thousands excuse, he also don't want to sin (NOTE: Don't want does not means won't).

Smile

M©+square SG

That is only a handful of people, when they misunderstood the meaning of the central message.

Ok. I see your point.

Icemoon SG

I disagree, because the gospel can be conveniently misused to support their position. Here are some common "excuses":

1. "Who are you to judge me?" .. then they quote their favourite verse. Effectively it means they can explain away any sins with the verse.

2. "It doesn't matter what they think of us 'cos we have God's grace blah blah". Effectively it means they need not self-reflect. If Jesus has forgiven you, who are others to condemn you?

Icemoon SG

I hope I am wrong about the numbers.

M©+square SG

Hmm...i'd reserve my comments.

Don't wish to be too critical about this.

Icemoon SG

we encourage diversity of opinions. Smile

vince69 SG

Then its not use as "an excuse to sin" but more like a "cover up of their guilt"

The proper use of God's grace is this, that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. It is this no condemnation that we, when we do fall (and I bet you, many like me who are imperfect do fall, though it may not be intentational), we can rest in this grace of God, stand up and continue our walk with God, instead of just lie there on the ground and continue in the fallen state.

Like Jesus said, I do not condemn you, now go and sin no more. The power of knowing there now no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, gives the ability to resist the temptation of sin.
Imagine if a person thinks God condemn him, you think he dares to go to God and repent and change for the better meh?

Icemoon SG

The sad thing is some might not even know they have fallen. so it is not correct to say they feel guilty and are finding a cover in the Gospel.

Your scenario is not very correct leh. 'cos we know God's condemnation, if any, won't last forever.

vince69 SG

This is what Paul says

Roman 8:1-8
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in sinful man,[d] 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man[e] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind[f] is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

gasband SG

But the irony is this, that if a christian had truly repented and received Christ into his life, the Holy Spirit would fill him. Therefore a true christian would never be really able to use the gospel to cover for his sins becos the Holy Spirit in him would be prompting him all the time that he has sins in his life… this is like what David describes in his psalm that when he is far from God, its like his life being sapped away…...

laurence82 SG

so there are true and false christians?

vince69 SG

He who knows he was forgiven much, loved much;
He who think he was forgiven little, loved litte. Smile

gasband SG

Being a christian is afterall a very personal and private thingy between you and God. Some people when saying the sinner's prayer do not mean it at all. A good example is my fren who says the prayer with me 12 years ago. I was sincere. But for him, just a few months later, he tells me that he said it becos of me, i say thats why he says, he did not know what was happening at all. When I ask him whether he wants to say the prayer again albeit sincerely, he says he will think about it...until today he still thinking hahaha....

M©+square SG

Woohoo!!!!

Icemoon SG

I think the temptation is still there. It is easy to fall to the dark side.

The important thing is whether you realize you have fallen, repent with a contrite heart and make restitution.

vince69 SG

more like,
there are christians and there are non-christians (I am not sure how you want to classify, those who profess they are christians not actually are not, but then how to tell them apart?)